A family are celebrating a very special birthday this week for a woman who is well known to many in Fernie.
Irene Peters grew up in West Fernie before moving to Nanaimo in the fifties, where she will be celebrating her 100th birthday tomorrow.
Irene was born Irene Reed on February 8, 1913 and lived in West Fernie prior to her marriage to Gus Peters in 1934. The couple raised three children together, Don, Shirley and Marilou. Irene enjoyed sewing, knitting and spending time with her family, and has been known to take on carpentry work in their home. She was a long-time member of the Esther Rebecca Lodge, where she worked her way up to the top position. They moved to Nanaimo in 1956 and Irene continued to enjoy and care for family members. They continued to visit and enjoy other couples of their generation who had also moved to Nanaimo. Sadly, Irene’s husband died in 1986 and her son, Don, in 2005. Besides her three children, she is blessed with nine grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
Her daughter Shirley said Irene attributes her long life to simply accepting who she is, what she has and enjoying her many family members who surround her.
“Her very name means ‘peace’ which she lives by every day,” said Shirley. “Many family members, both local and from a distance will be helping Irene celebrate her very special day.”
Some of the friends who will be celebrating with Irene on February 8 are former Fernieittes Margaret (Littie) Pascuzzi (Pointon), Bernice Tortorelli (Manning) and Carol Tymchuk (Bigrig).